West Technical High School Alumni
Cleveland, Ohio (OH)
Recent Members
| Gahli Gee | 1987 |
| Karen Paul | 1971 |
| Lori Loher | 1957 |
| Maria Parks Erlacher | 1963 |
| Marty Switalski | 1975 |
| Paul Owens | 1978 |
| Rich Michael | 1978 |
| Robert Jenkins | 1981 |
Military Alumni
Honoring Our Heroes
This area is dedicated to our alumni that have served or are serving in our armed forces!
Lost Class Rings
Have you lost your West Technical High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Warriors lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni
Ralph Tomaccio
Class of 1964
Air Force, 4 Years
Aircraft Control & Warning Operator
Class of 1964
Air Force, 4 Years
Aircraft Control & Warning Operator
richard e. bryson
Class of 1959
Navy, 4 Years
aviation structural mechanic 2nd class
Class of 1959
Navy, 4 Years
aviation structural mechanic 2nd class
Rick A.Foster
Class of 1985
Army, 20+ Years
I was a member of the United States Army from July 1984 until retirement in November 2004. I spent several years as a US Armored Cav. Scout patrolling the East / West German Border during the Cold War before the Re-unification in 1990, when the Berlin Wall fell. I learned my German at West Tech High in the early eighties in Mr Merrick's German Class. I then served during and in the Gulf War from 1990-91 and later on in the Iraq War and Enduring Freedom from 2003-2004. I spent 17 years as a military police officer and trainer at the United States Army Military Police School. I retired as a First Sergeant from Fort Knox, KY. I am now serving as a Deputy Sheriff in Jackson, TN. for more than six years now.
Class of 1985
Army, 20+ Years
I was a member of the United States Army from July 1984 until retirement in November 2004. I spent several years as a US Armored Cav. Scout patrolling the East / West German Border during the Cold War before the Re-unification in 1990, when the Berlin Wall fell. I learned my German at West Tech High in the early eighties in Mr Merrick's German Class. I then served during and in the Gulf War from 1990-91 and later on in the Iraq War and Enduring Freedom from 2003-2004. I spent 17 years as a military police officer and trainer at the United States Army Military Police School. I retired as a First Sergeant from Fort Knox, KY. I am now serving as a Deputy Sheriff in Jackson, TN. for more than six years now.
Robert Wotowiec
Class of 1964
Army, 3 Years
Served in Vietnam as a Medic with 3rd Brig 25th Inf. Oct 66-Nov 67
Class of 1964
Army, 3 Years
Served in Vietnam as a Medic with 3rd Brig 25th Inf. Oct 66-Nov 67
Robert Glover
Class of 1984
Navy, 20+ Years
Served in the Navy for 23 years, retired out of SEAL Team FIVE in July 2008.
Class of 1984
Navy, 20+ Years
Served in the Navy for 23 years, retired out of SEAL Team FIVE in July 2008.
Ronald S. Staudt
Class of 1962
Air Force, 4 Years
U.S.Air Force
Loadmaster 4th ATS Joined in Oct 12th, 1962 until Oct 11th, 1966
Class of 1962
Air Force, 4 Years
U.S.Air Force
Loadmaster 4th ATS Joined in Oct 12th, 1962 until Oct 11th, 1966
Theodore (Ted) Boryk
Class of 1939
Army, 3 Years
Ted graduated W. Tech in January 1939. He, and all of his brothers, Mike, Stanley and Alvin were all in WW-II at the same time, much to their Mother's worry.
Upon graduation from basic training in 1943, Ted was attached to the 823rd Tank Destroyer Unit and accompanied the 29th and 30th Infantry Divisions. They fought bravely in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Ted drove a half-track which pulled a 3-inch M5 gun, so they were out in the open when firing the gun.
They fought along the Siegfried Line and encircled Aachen, taking the entire German contingent prisioners. For this the 823rd was awarded the Fourragère Award, a braided lanyard that hung over the shoulder. It is the top unit award in the French military!
Another major batter that Ted fought in was in the Battle of the Bulge, a huge German offensive campaign launched through the densely forested Ardennes region in Belgium, France and Luxembourg. On December 17, 1945, the 823rd Division rushed south to Belgium to help block the powerful enemy drive in the Ardennes. They were still using the M-5 towed guns and Ted knew he would not survive but decided it was all right. About 610,000 American forces were in the battle and 19,000 were killed and 89,000 were injured in the largest and bloodiest battle in the War. The 823rd fought in the Ardennes for the entire battle. On Christmas of 1944 the 823rd was switched to M-10 tanks and Ted continued as a tank driver.
On March 24th, Ted’s Division made its assault crossing of the Rhine. It pursued the enemy across Germany, mopping up enemy pockets of resistance. In April 1945 they raced eastward to Magdeburg and took that city and began military occupation. They then began moving for home, arriving in LaHavre, France early December 1945.
Ted and all of his brothers survived the War.
They were--and continue to be--the "Greatest Generation!"
Class of 1939
Army, 3 Years
Ted graduated W. Tech in January 1939. He, and all of his brothers, Mike, Stanley and Alvin were all in WW-II at the same time, much to their Mother's worry.
Upon graduation from basic training in 1943, Ted was attached to the 823rd Tank Destroyer Unit and accompanied the 29th and 30th Infantry Divisions. They fought bravely in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Ted drove a half-track which pulled a 3-inch M5 gun, so they were out in the open when firing the gun.
They fought along the Siegfried Line and encircled Aachen, taking the entire German contingent prisioners. For this the 823rd was awarded the Fourragère Award, a braided lanyard that hung over the shoulder. It is the top unit award in the French military!
Another major batter that Ted fought in was in the Battle of the Bulge, a huge German offensive campaign launched through the densely forested Ardennes region in Belgium, France and Luxembourg. On December 17, 1945, the 823rd Division rushed south to Belgium to help block the powerful enemy drive in the Ardennes. They were still using the M-5 towed guns and Ted knew he would not survive but decided it was all right. About 610,000 American forces were in the battle and 19,000 were killed and 89,000 were injured in the largest and bloodiest battle in the War. The 823rd fought in the Ardennes for the entire battle. On Christmas of 1944 the 823rd was switched to M-10 tanks and Ted continued as a tank driver.
On March 24th, Ted’s Division made its assault crossing of the Rhine. It pursued the enemy across Germany, mopping up enemy pockets of resistance. In April 1945 they raced eastward to Magdeburg and took that city and began military occupation. They then began moving for home, arriving in LaHavre, France early December 1945.
Ted and all of his brothers survived the War.
They were--and continue to be--the "Greatest Generation!"
William Hertzel
Class of 1970
Air Force, 4 Years
Sgt, USAF 1971-1975
Air Traffic Controller
Class of 1970
Air Force, 4 Years
Sgt, USAF 1971-1975
Air Traffic Controller
William S. Tuma
Class of 1943
Air Force, 3 Years
S/Sgt radio operator on B-24 Liberator, 6th AF.
Class of 1943
Air Force, 3 Years
S/Sgt radio operator on B-24 Liberator, 6th AF.
Alumni Stories
Read and submit stories about our classmates from West Technical High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Warriors.
School News
Warriorettes
Looking for Warriorette!!!!s. If you were a Warriorette,or your BFF was, we are looking for you. Please contact Sherry ...
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Our West Technical High School military alumni are some of the most outstanding people we know and this page recognizes them and everything they have done! Not everyone gets to come home for the holidays and we want our West Technical High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Cleveland are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!